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In Côte d’Ivoire, the lawyers of civil society activist Pulchérie Gbalet denounce facts “ not established in the charges against their client. The president of the NGO Alternative citoyenne ivorienne is currently being prosecuted for “agreement with the agents of a foreign power”, in this case Mali, a country with which Côte d’Ivoire is at odds at the moment. His lawyer denies these charges.
The two countries fell out after thearrest of 49 Ivorian soldiers in Bamako in July. Pulchérie Gbalet is accused of having visited the families of these soldiers. Which is likely to damage the image of Côte d’Ivoire, according to one of the charges.
Charges rejected by his lawyer, Maître Lambert Kouamé Béné, joined by Christina Okello of the Africa editorial staff of RFI. She did not contact Malian officials or public authorities, insists her lawyer. ” She traveled to Mali at the invitation of a sister NGO... being there, she wanted to inquire about the 49 soldiers who had been arrested in Bamako and imprisoned… She did not even meet these families! ». In Mali, the 49 Ivorian soldiers are charged and imprisoned for “ breach of state security “.
Between Côte d’Ivoire and Mali, ” it’s not the right atmosphere »recognizes the lawyer, so the authorities are more “ watching about the activities of the activist. Pulchérie Gbalet has been incarcerated in the Abidjan remand center since August 22.
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